Can opener



R. E. M LEAN Aug. 21, 1951 CAN OPENER Filed Feb. 13, 1946 INVE NTOR 4Sheets-Sheet 1 ATTO R NEY R. E. M LEAN Aug. 21, 1951 CAN OPENER FiledFeb. 13, 1946 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTOF Robert E. M Lean ATTORNEY R. E.M LEAN Aug. 21, 1951 CAN OPENER 4 Sheets-Sheet 5 Filed Feb. 13, 1946INVENTOR Robert E. ll Lean BY v ATTORNEY Aug. 21, 1951 R. E. M LEAN2,565,144

CAN OPENER Filed Feb. 13, 1946 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 INVENTOR Robefi E. M' Lean ATTORNEY Patented Aug. 21, 1951 CAN OPENER Robert E. McLean, FortBenning, Ga., assignor to John C. Hockery, Kansas City, Mo., as trusteeApplication February 13, 1946, Serial No. 647,309

15 Claims.

This invention relates generally to the class of cutlery and pertainsparticularly to devices for cutting or removing the tops from cans, thepresent invention being directed especially to can opening deviceshaving a rotary operating handle.

An object of the invention is to provide a can opening device having asingle operating handle with means associated therewith whereby apredetermined degree of operation of the single handle will effect therelative movement of a can top penetrating cutter and a driving wheelfor the puncturing of the can top and continued movement of theoperating handle will then effect turning of the wheel and of the canrelative to the cutter, and an especial feature of this novel mechanismresiding in improved means for yieldingly maintaining pressure againstthe can rim whereby to keep such rim and the can driving wheelconstantly in the correct driving engagement.

Another object of the invention is to provide in a device of thecharacter stated, novel resilient or yieldable means by which it ispossible to employ the device to open cans with beads or rims of varyingheights and also to assure positive traction for the can driving wheelwith the rim of the can and the rotation of such can driving wheel andconsequent movement of the can relative to the cutter, with a minimum ofeffort.

Still another object of the invention is to provide in a can openingdevice of the character stated, a novel thrust means which is initiallyput into action after placing the can in proper operating position withrelation to the cutter, which is of improved condensed construction andwhich makes possible the puncturing of the end of a can with a minimumof efiort.

Still another object of the invention is to provide in a device of thecharacter stated, novel escapement mechanisms which provide for theelevation of the thrust means or thrust mecha nisms to prop-er operatingposition when the single operating handle is rotated in a clockwise direction a predetermined extent and the release of the thrust mechanismswhen the said single operating handle has been rotated to apredetermined extent in a clockwise direction, and for the reengagementof the single operating handle with the thrust mechanisms when suchoperating handle is rotated counter-clockwise to effect the reversemovement or operation of the thrust mechanism and the release of the canfrom the device.

A still further object of the invention is to provide a single handleoperated can opening device of relatively simple construction which iseconomical to manufacture, simple and easy to operate and durable.

The invention will be best understood from a consideration of thefollowing detailed description taken in connection with the accompanyingdrawings forming a part of the specification, with the understanding,however, that the invention is not confined to a strict conformity withthe showing of the drawings but may be changed or modified so long assuch changes or modifications mark no material departure from thesalient features of the invention as expressed in the appended claims.

In the drawings.

Figure 1 is a view in elevation of the right hand or operating crankside of a can opener constructed in accordance with one embodiment ofthe present invention, portions being broken away and in section.

Figure 2 is a View in front elevation of the opener shown in Figure 1.

Figure *3 is a vertical section taken substantially on the line 33 ofFigure 1.

Figure 4 is a view in elevation of the left or can side of the openerstructure shown in the preceding figures.

Figure 5 is a view in top plan of the opener shown in Figures 1 to 4.

Figure 6 is a view in elevation of the right or crank side of anotherembodiment showing a fixed holding handle and a thumb and finger type ofoperating crank.

Figure 7 is a view in elevation of the left or can side of the openershown in Figure 6.

Figure 8 is a view in top plan of the opener shown in Figures 6 and '7.

Figure 9 is a detail view partly in section, illustrating a slightmodification of the thrust means illustrated in section in Figure 7.

Figure 10 is a view in top plan of a modification of the knife headwhich may be employed in the several forms of the invention insubstitution for the heads illustrated in connection with such forms.

Figure 11 is a view in front elevation of the head construction shown inFigure 10.

Figure 12 illustrates a modified form of the esoapement cam.

Figure 13 is a sectional view taken substantially on the line I3-I3 ofFigure 12.

Figure 14 is a view in elevation of the right or crank side of stillanother embodiment of the opener structure.

Figure 15 is a view in front elevation of the embodiment shown in Figure14.

Figures 16 and 1'7 are respectively top plan and left side elevationviews of another form of rest for engagement by the top edge of the can.

Figure 18 is a view in elevation of the left or can side of stillanother embodiment of the opener illustrating a hand actuated thrustmeans operated independently of the crank.

Figure 19 is a partial section taken substantially on the line 9-4 3 ofFigure 18.

Figure 20 illustrates an embodiment of my opener as disclosed in myPatent No. 2,466,117, dated April 5, 1949, in connection with which themodified head construction shown in the present application in Figures10 and 11 may be conveniently employed.

Referring now more particularly to the drawings and especially to theembodiment of the invention as illustrated in Figures 1 to 5, inclusive,the numeral it generally designates the body plate of the illustratedcan opener, the upper end portion of which plate is angularly disposedas indicated at H and is attached to the correspondingly angled terminalor forward end portion l2 of a supporting bracket arm 12. Such a bracketarm may be mounted in any convenient manner upon a suitable supportingstructure and since the manner of mounting the bracket arm forms no partof the present invention no illustration of such mounting is shown.

The plate It is provided on its longitudinal or vertical center, withthe elliptical opening it,

such opening being below the angled upper end i l as shown in Figure 3.

Enclosing the lower portion of the body plate I9 is the yoke generallydesignated I 5, which comprises the right and left side plates l5 and llrespectively and the relatively narrow web I8 which connects the rearportions of these plates together, this web being spaced a substantialdis tance from the back edge of the body plate It? as shown in Figure 1.As is also shown in this figure the top edge of the right side plate itof the yoke curves downwardly and rearwardly toward the top of the webportion is and the opposite or left hand plate I? is similarly formed,the forward part of this top edge, which is designated l9, having aparticular function, as hereinafter described, to limit the oscillationof the yoke in one direction and also its movement vertically orlongitudinally of the body plate.

Extending through and secured to the two plates It and ll and throughthe elliptical opening 14 of the body plate is a bearing sleeve 28 whichhas a flanged head 2! at the end adjacent to the plate ii. The other endof this bearing sleeve extends a substantial distance to the right ibeyond the yoke plate It, as illustrated, whereas the head flange 2ibears against the left hand side of the plate ll.

Extending through the bearing sleeve 28 is a crank shaft 22 whichcarries upon the end adjacent to the bearing sleeve head 2!, the toothedcan rim engaging driving wheel 23 while the opposite end is extendedbeyond the right hand end of the bearing and has fixed thereto one endof a crank arm 2 This crank arm has attached to its lower end, as shownin Figure 2, the knob or handle 25 to be grasped in the hand for therotation of the crank and, therefore, of the shaft and wheel 22 and 23,respectively.

The yoke plate ll has formed integrally with the lower edge from itsforward end through the major portion of the length of such edge, a camflange which is generally designated 26. This flange has a straight rearend portion 21 which merges with the upwardly and forwardly curving 1front end portion 28 which is nearer to the horizontal plane of thedriving wheel axis than the portion 2? but the portion 2? lies directlybeneath the center of the driving wheel as shown in Figure This flange26 extends straight laterally to the left of the device and in additionto functioning as a cam, in the manner hereinafter described, it alsofunctions, through its contact with the side of a can applied to theopener, to provide a rest for the can and to maintain the can in theproper working position.

Upon the outer or right hand side of the yoke plate It is positioned theescapement trigger generally designated 23. This trigger comprises asubstantially triangular plate which is pivotally coupled with the yokeadjacent to the rear end thereof, by the pivot pin or rivet 33 to extendupwardly and forwardly. The Wider end of the eccentric trigger plate 29is adjacent to the front of the opener and this is provided with thearcuate slot 3| which is struck from the pivotal center of the rivet 3E?and which ha the bearing sleeve 29 and shaft 22 extended therethrough asshown in Figure 3.

Below the slot 3! and at the forward end of the trigger plate ispivotally mounted, upon the pivot rivet 32, the trigger roller 33 vcrank 24 has secured thereto, to extend inwardly from its inner sidetoward the escape- "nent trigger 23, the rivet stud 34 which is couplingof the crank with the yoke, through he escapement trigger whereby tobring about the clockwise rotation of the yoke.

Adjacent to the forward edge of the body plate it there is secured tothe right hand side of the body plate, the inclined trigger cam 35, wit;the top surface of which the lower forward corner of the escapementtrigger plate 29 is designed to engage, to be lifted by the cam oroscillated on the axis of the rivet 39.

Upon the side of the body plate It adjacent to which the yoke plate I?is located, there is mounted upon the pivot pin or rivet 36, the camthrust roller 3?. This roller and pivot are located upon thelongitudinal center of the body plate or, in other words, upon the samecenter as the can driving wheel 23 and the roller is adapted to beengaged by the camming flange 23 when the yoke is turned on the axis ofthe shaft 22, whereby to effect the raising and lowering of the yoke andof the can driving wheel 23.

Connected with the angled upper portion H of the body plate, upon theleft side of the opener, or upon the side of the opener adjacent to thecan driving wheel 23, is a cutter head which is generally designatedtt.This head includes a box-like frame which is preferably formed from asingle piece of material of a width substantially the same as the widthof the angled portion II and shaped to provide the outer side 39, the rllel end portions ii), and the inner side teral portions 45 which are inend abutting relation and are positioned against the lower side of theportion H of the body plate. These terminal portions ll of the knifehead frame, the top portion Ii of the body plate and the end of the armi3 are all riveted together by two rivets, one only of which is shown inFigure 2 and designated 32. The central part of the po tion 39 of thehead frame is pressed inwardly as indicated at 43 to bring such portioninto parallel relation with the part H of the body plat as best seen inFigure 3. This central,

inpressed portion 43 is extended downwardly slightly as best seen inFigure 4 and is provided with an opening 44, which is alignedtransversely of the head with openings 45 which pass through the angledportion of the body plate and through the bracket 13. r

The adjacent ends of the portions 4! of the head frame are cut away fromthe top of the frame to a point below the openingsfid as indicated at 45and best seen in Figure 3, thus providing a space between the ends ofthe frame portions 4l' through which may be extended the pivot bolt 41,the head portion 48 of which bolt lies in the opening 44 while theopposite end portion, which is reduced and screw threaded as indicatedat 49, projects beyond the back of the bracket arm 13.

As shown in Figure 3 the inner side of the head 48 of the pivot boltlies within the frame beyond the inner side of the portion 43 and thereis rotatably mounted upon the pivot bolt the disc knife or cutter 56which bears against the inner side of the bolt head 43 and which isprovided upon its opposite side with the hub which functions to keep theknife in position against the bolt head.

Upon the outer or right side of the bracket arm l3 there is positionedthe arcuate leaf spring 52 which is provided with a suitable threadedaperture for the extension therethrough of the bolt end 49 and threadedupon this end of the bolt is the lock nut 53 which bears against thespring. This spring functions, as will be readily seen, to maintain thebolt 4'! in a predetermined position but yields under the application ofthrust against the knife 50 to allow the knife to move away from the canrim engaging and driving wheel 23 where such movement is desirable as,for example, when a thick seam in a can wall is passing between theknife and the driving wheel.

In order to prevent turning movement of the spring 52- there is formedat one end of the spring, the tongue extension 54 and this is engaged ina notch 55 formed in the end of the bracket arm l3, as shown in Figure1.

At each end of the frame the end portion 40 carries a can rest memberwhich is generally designated 56. Each of these can rests is in the formof a substantially U-shaped yoke which comprises the inner and outerlegs 51 and 58 respectively, and the connecting foot portion 59'. Eachof the can rest yokes receives between its legs the frame portion 40 asshown in Figure 5 and'a pivot and suspension pin 59 passes through theupper ends of the two legs and through the vertically disposedelliptical slot 60 formed in the adjacent frame portion 40 whereby inaddition to slight swinging movement the can rest yoke is permittedlimited up and down movement. As will be readily apparent from a studyofFigure 5, the inner leg 51 of each yoke is of slightly less width thanthe outer leg and the left edge of such inner leg abuts the inner sideof the portion 39 of the frame and thus limits the swinging movementoutwardly of the yoke.

The lower edge of each frame portion 40 has formed therein the recess GIand disposed in this recess and resting upon the foot portion 59 of theyoke, is a bow spring 62 which is normally under slight tension so as toconstantly force the can rest downwardly.

In the use of the embodiment of the present invention as just described,the yoke ['5 will normally be in the extreme counter-clockwise positionas indicated in dotted outline in Figure 4,

in which position the opener will be readyfor the reception of a can andthe yoke will be malntained in such position through the operation ofthe crank 24 inasmuch as the rivet stud 34 will be forward of the roller33. If, however, the parts are not in the stated position, the operatingcrank 24 may be rotated counterclockwise from the position in which thecrank is shown in Figure 1, until such oscillated position of the yokeas shown in dotted outline in Figure 4, is attained.

The can is then placed with its end against the cutter wheel or rotaryknife 50 and while it is held in approximately a vertical position theoperating crank or handle 24 is turned clockwise. Since, at this time,the rivet 32 will have its axial center below a straight line extendedacross the axes of the rivet 3i and the stud 34, and the upper end ofthe elliptical opening 3| of the escapement trigger 29 will be bearingupon the bearing sleeve 28, the yoke l5 will be caused to oscillate withthe operating crank or handle 24. However, when the forward and lowercorner of the escapement trigger engages the upper surface of the cam 35and is forced upwardly to a predetermined position, that is,approximately the position in which the parts are illustrated in Figure1, the axis of the rivet 32 will then be above the extended straightline across the axes of the rivet 33 and the rivet stud 3d. The roller33 then rolls upwardly over the rivet stud 34 so that the stud passesunder the roller andv the roller then drops back with the escapementtrigger, to the position in which it is shown in Figure 1 and the yokewill not be rotated further clockwise.

The crank 24 may then be rotated continuously clockwise until the end ofthe can is out out.

During the clockwise oscillation of the yoke IS, the can driving wheel23 forces the can upwardly, causing the cutter wheel or knife 56 topuncture the end of the can and clamping the bead or rim of the canbetween the can driving wheel 23 and the can rest members 56, againstthe tension of the springs 62. The can will then be maintained againsttilting in the device and the can flange will have sufficient downwardthrust exerted thereon by the can rest members 56 to assure the tractionof can driving wheel 23 with the under side of the flange of the can.

During the stated oscillation of the yoke l5 the cam flange 26 at thelower part of the plate I! of the yoke will ride on the roller 31,elevating the yoke to approximately the position illustrated in fulllines in Figures 2 and 4.

After the end has been cut from the can, the crank 24 is turnedcounter-clockwise until the yoke is in the extreme counter-clockwiseposition shown in dotted lines in Figure 4 thereby returning the partsto the stated starting position.

During such counter-clockwise turning of the crank the axis of the rivetstud 34 will be above the extended straight line across the axes of therivet 30 and the rivet 32. Accordingly, as the crank is turnedcounter-clockwise the yoke l5 will be turned also and during suchturning movement of the yoke the arcuate or cammed upper edge I9 of theplate I! will be in contact with the overlying under edges of theportion 4| of the head frame, causing the can driving wheel 23 to bemoved to its lowest position and releasing the can from the device.

The contour of the curved upper edge of the plate I! of the yoke is suchthat the yoke fits snugly is between the roller 31 and the lower edgesurfaces of the parts H of the frame when the yoke is in any position.

It will be noted upon reference to Figures 3 and 4 that the cam roller37 is provided with a flange 3?. Friction between the yoke I 5 and thebody plate 10 is minimized during the puncturing operation of the canend, by positioning this flange 3'! in vertical alignment with the candriving wheel 23.

Figures 6, 7 and 8 illustrate a second embodiment of the inventionwherein the body plate is generally designated l The bottom end of thisbody plate I0 is formed to provide the upwardly opening receptacle 63upon the left or can side of the device by extending a portion of thebody plate, reduced in width, as indicated at 64 and then turning a partof this extended portion laterally to form the bottom 65 and finallyturning the terminal portion of the extension upwardly to form the leftside part 66. Inturned side pieces 61, forming integral parts of theextension are located between the upturned portion 66 and the body thusclosing the receptacle on all sides except the top.

The numeral l generally designates the yoke which substantiallycorresponds in design with the yoke I5 in that it comprises the rightand left side plates l 6' and I1 and the inter-connecting web portionI8.

The two plates of the yoke carry the bearing sleeve 29 through which isextended the shaft 22 which carries the can driving wheel 23. The bodyplate H), of course, has an elliptical slot l4v formed therein throughwhich the bearing sleeve and shaft pass thus permitting the up and downmovement of these parts during the turning or oscillation of the yoke.

The body plate 10 is straight at its upper end and it has fixed thereto,by the rivets 42, one end of a handle 68. This handle extends across thetop of the body plate in the same position as the bracket arm l3 but isdesigned to be held in the hand instead of being attached to a mountingbracket.

Because of the fact that this second embodiment of the opener isdesigned to be held in the hand while being used, ther is employed,instead of the crank 24, the thumb and finger crank handle designated 69and having the form of a long plate which is engaged in the slottedright hand end of the shaft 22 and secured thereto by the rivet 10. Ateach end of this crank handle, the edge thereof nearest to the bodyplate, has extending therefrom toward the body plate, an ear ll forco-action with the escapement trigger which is generally designated 29'.

The escapement trigger 29' is in the form of a long plate, one end ofwhich is pivotally coupled by the rivet 30 to the outer side of the yokeplate 16 adjacent to the back end thereof. At its other end thisescapement trigger plate has the elliptical opening 3| formedtherethrough, through which extends the bearing sleeve and shaft 22. Thelong axis of this opening 3! is struck from the center of the rivet sothat the escapement trigger plate is free to oscillate on the rivet 30'within the limits of the opening Adjacent to its forward end and at thelower edge, the escapement trigger plate 29' has the downward extension12 and at its lower end this extension has the laterally projecting triplug 13 with which the ears H are designed to couple during certainperiods in the operation of the device.

Adjacent to the lower end and forward edge of the body plate, there isfixed to the right hand side thereof the trigger cam 35 onto theinclined top surface of which the lower end of the extension 12 ridesduring certain periods in the operation of the opener.

The top edge IQ of the yoke plate 11' functions as a cam to work againstthe under or bot tom edge of the handle 68 beneath which it lies asshown in Figures '7 and 8.

The lower edge of the plate H is provided with a recess 74 and a portionl5 of the lower edge of the plate ll is turned up, upon the outer sideof the plate and partially covers the recess 14 as shown in Figure '7.This portion 15 has a pivot opening formed therein in which is pivotallyengaged the right angularly extended journal T! which forms the terminalof a toggle link it. This toggle link at its upper end lies within therecess 74 while its opposite end extends downwardly into the receptacle63 where it engages in a recess '19 formed in the top of a thrust block89. This block, as shown in Figure 7, is contained within the receptacle63 and one side of the recess is is straight or formed verti cally whilethe opposite side, which is remote from th forward edge of the yokeplate H, is inclined or sloped. Thus when the yoke is rocked to assumesubstantially the same position as the yoke I5 is shown in broken linesin Figure l, where the can driving wheel 23 will be lowered, one side ofthe toggle link will engage the forward edge of the recess 14 while theopposit side of the toggle link will engage the inclined side of therecess 19.

The numeral 8! generally designates the knife head frame Which is ofsimilar construction to the frame forming a part of the head 31-3 withthe exception that the outer side 82 of the frame is provided with theparallel inset portion 82 which is in close proximity to the side of thecan driving wheel 23' and has fixed between its inner side and the candriving wheel, by means of the screws 83, the can head puncturing andcutting knife 84. As shown in Figure '7 the cutting edge of this knifedepends below the lower side of the frame 55 and is adapted to penetratethe head of the can when the latter is raised by the driving wheel 23 tothe position in which it is shown in this figure.

The frame 8i includes the end portions and the inturned inner sideterminal portions 86 which are secured by the rivets 42' to the lefthand side of the handle 68.

Each of the end portions 35 has suspended therefrom a can rest yoke 56'which is of the same design or construction as the yoke 56 and each ofthese yokes is suspended like the yoke 56, by a pin 59 which engages ina vertical elliptical slot, not shown, corresponding to the slot 60shown in Figure 2.

Each of these yokes 55 is normally pressed down by a spring 62 of thesame design and functioning in the same manner as the spring 62.

It is believed that the operation of the structure illustrated inFigures 6, '7 and 8 will be readily apparent as such operation issubstantially the same as the operation of the opener shown in Figure 1.

If the yoke I5 is not in the extreme counterclockwise position it may bebrought to this position, so that the device may be applied to a can, byturning the crank 69 counter-clockwise which action will bring one ofthe gears H into engagement with the lug 13 thus turning the yokecounter-clockwise and allowing the shaft 22, the

sleeve 20 and can driving wheel 23' to lower away from the knife 8 1.This action will likewise oscillate the thrust link 18 from the verticalposition in which it is shown in Figure 7 to an inclined positionwhereit will be directed from the bottom of the recess 19 toward the rear ofthe device.

After application of the device to the can so that the can rim bead isengaged upon the top edge of the wheel 23, clockwise turning movement isgiven to the yoke 15' by turning the crank 69 in a clockwise direction.This action brings one of the ears H into engagement with the lug 13thereby forcing the yoke I to oscillate and be raised by the swinging ofthe thrust link 18 to V vertical position. The lower forward corner ofthe trip plate will, during this action, ride up on the cam 35 and thusraise the lug 13 so as to cause it to escape from engagement with thecrank ear H, thus releasing the crank for continued clockwise rotation..-Figure 9 illustrates a slightly modified thrust means which is of aresilient nature and is designed for use in an opener where theyoke-like can'rests 56 and 55 are not employed. This modifiedconstruction includes the use of a leaf spring of bowed or corrugatedform as indicated at 86, disposed in the bottom of the receptacle 63beneath the thrust block 89. The other parts of the construction are thesame as shown in Figure '7, the numeral 13 designating the thrust linkwhich bears against the thrust block 80' when the yoke is oscillated ina clockwise direction for the purpose of lifting the can driving wheel23' relative to the knife.

Figures and 11 are top and end views, re-

spectively, of the upperend portion of an opener constructed with anL-shaped can rest which is generally designated 81. This rest comprisesthe vertical portion 88 and the horizontal portion 89 and the verticalportion of this rest is secured between the handle 90-and the two end orterminal portions ll of the modified knife supporting head frame 8|. 1

- The horizontal portion 89 of the can rest has an opening 9|therethrough through which the cutter 92 extends. The inner portion 93of the cutter supporting frame has holes 94 there- ,through throughwhich may be extended the countersunk-rivets 42" by means of which the:i

handle, modified can. rest, head frame and body plate ll! are securedtogether.

This L-shaped can rest as shown in Figures 10 and 11 is used only whenuse is made of the resilient thrust block supporting means 85 at thelower end of the .body plate, as shown in Figure 9, or when the cutteris formed sufliciently blunt to provide the necessary traction betweenthe can driving wheel and the under edge of the can flange with which itengages and the can flange is not compressed between the can drivingwheel and a can rest.

Figures 12 and 13 illustrate a modified cam construction of a resilientcharacter. In these figures the numeral 95 designates the lower portionof a body plate which may represent the body plate of any of thedifferent forms of the device here illustrated. This pivoted resilientcam comprises the relatively long plate member which vis generallydesignated 95' and which adjacent to one end, has the outwardly offsetportion 96 through which extends the pivot screw 81. This screwisthreaded in the body plate and pivotally maintains the cam in positionthereon.

The cam member 95' is disposed at an oblique angle across thelongitudinal center of the body plate and, at its upper end, hasthe'inturned movement limiting tongue 98 which engages in a slot 99formed in the body plate. By the engagement of this tongue 95 with theends of the slot as, the oscillatory movement of the cam plate islimited. I

Formed integral with the cam plate at the lower edge thereof and abovethe oifset portion is the laterally extending cam flange use with whichis adapted to engage the lower forward corner of the oscillatabletrigger member l0! which is here illustrated as being of'the same designas the trigger member 29. U V

A U-shaped spring [62, of relatively light tension, is inserted betweenthe body 94 and the offset 96 of the cam plate. This spring has one endturned inwardly for engagement in a suitable aperture, not shown, in thebody 95, while the other end of the spring is turned outwardly andengaged as at l 33, in an aperture in the cam plate. .As indicatedthespring I52 passesaround the pivot screw 9'? and the bias of thespring issuch as to urge the pivoted cam plate to oscillate clockwise on thepivot screw 91. v

When this pivoted cam is made use of, the tension of the spring H32 willnot overcome the friction between the operating handla not shown, butwhich is coupled with the shaft I94, and the out-turned portion or lugN5 of the escapement trigger it i, during clockwise rotation of theoperating handle and the operating handle can be turned clockwise onlyuntil the yoke, here designated tilt? and corresponding to the yokes l5and previously described, arrives at the extreme clockwise position. Thepivoted cam will be oscillated counter-clockwise against the relativelylight tension of the spring tilt, during such rotation of the operatinghandle. However, when the operating handle is rotated counter-clockwisesufficiently to free the connection between the handle and theout-turned portion or lug Hi5 of the escapement trigger, the spring I82will oscillate the pivoted cam 28 to approximately the positionillustrated in Figure 12 and the pivoted cam will simultaneouslyoscillate the escapement trigger it! to approximately the positionillustrated in Figure 12, which corresponds to the position of the yokeand escapement trigger illustrated in Figure 6. The operating handle maythen be rotated clockwise continuously until the end of the can is outout and subsequent counter-clockwise rotation of the operating handlewill oscillate the yoke to extreme counterclockwise position. 7 a

Figures 14 and 15 are right side and front views, respectively, of analternateconstruction of the embodiment illustrated in Figures 1 to 5,inclusive.

The principal differences in this alternate construction are that theroller 33a. is pivoted to the operating arm or crank Z ta and thecooperating stud or pin 35a is secured to the escapement trigger tiia.

11 to the inner ear 5'! of the individual units 56. At each end of theplate I! is the outer ear I I0 which corresponds to the ear -8 of theunits 56 and the adjacent ears I09 and I I0 receive between them the endmembers I I I of the cutter supporting head frame II2, as shown inFigure 15. As shown this can rest is formed preferably of a single pieceof material; however, it may be formed of two or more pieces if desired.

The left edge of the plate I01 or floor of the can rest 56a has anupturned portion I01 which is perpendicular to the plate and whichfunctions to re=inforce the plate. The right edge of this plate or floorportion is designed to bear against the adjacent portion of the head ofthe opener device as shown in Figure 15, to prevent movement of the canrest to the right. The inner portions or ears I09 bear against theadjacent portions of the left side of the knife frame, corresponding tothe side 39 of the frame structure shown in Figure 5, to preventmovement of the can rest to the left. The operation of this constructionis the same as that described in connection with Figures 1 to 5,inclusive.

In addition to the foregoing the head of the rivet 30a is upon the sideof the device toward the can and is pivoted through the two sides of theyoke I5a and the end of the rivet opposite from the head is countersunkand riveted into the escapement trigger 290. so that it is flush withthe surface of the trigger. The back edge of the body plate I0a is cutout sufficiently, as indicated at H3 to permit the rivet 30a to be movedto the position illustrated in Figure 14.

The head frame II 2, the upper end of the body plate Illa and the end ofthe supporting arm I3a, are secured together by the four countersunkrivets I I4 or by any other suitable method. Also, in this modifiedconstruction the right hand end of the rivet bolt 41a, is slotted orprovided with kerf H5 in order that this bolt may be adjusted from thatend.

Figures 18 and 19 illustrate another embodiment of the invention withregard particularly to the head construction and can rest, and the meansemployed for efiecting the movement of the can driving wheel.

In this embodiment the body plate is generally designated I0" and asshown most clearly in Figure 19 the upper end portion of this body plateis inclined in a manner corresponding to the structure shown in Figures1 to 5, inclusive, which inclined portion is here designated II". Thisinclined upper part of the body plate forms a part of the cutter headunit which is generally designated 38" and which includes the outwardlyand downwardly inclining top part H6 and the downwardly and inwardlyextending terminal portion II! which corresponds in its function to theouter side 39 of the cutter head frame shown in Figures 3 and 5.

The can rest which is here generally designated II8, comprises aseparate unit which is inserted into the head between the portions II ad Ill and this unit comprises the back plate H9, the perpendicular topflange portion I20 which is an integral part of the back plate and whichlies beneath the top II6 of the head, and the floor plate portion I2Iwhich is perpendicular to the body plate I0" as shown in Figure 19. Thisfloor plate portion of the can rest is provided with the central recessI22 which receives the extended lower portion of the head part II! andthus functions as a guide for this part. The lower portion of the headpart III is provided 12 with the opening I23 to receive the head I24 ofthe arbor or pivot bolt I25 upon which is mounted the rotatable cutterdisc I26. This construction, as will be readily apparent, corresponds tothe construction shown in Figure 3.

The angled forward end portion of the supporting bracket arm, generallydesi nated I26, and to which the head part of the body plate is secured,is provided with the openin I21 to receive the spring member I28,corresponding to the spring 52a shown in Figure 14 and this spring whichfunctions in the same manner as the spring 52a and the spring 52, hasthe pivot bolt I 25 threaded therethrough and is secured thereto by thelock-nut I29 which is threaded upon the right hand end of the pivot boltand this spring yields to allow the cutter member I26 to move to theleft when the cutter is passing a can seam under the action of thedriving wheel I30.

As shown in Figure 19, the back plate H9 of the can rest, is provided,where the pivot'bolt I 25 passes therethrough, with the verticallyelongated opening I3I which allows for a limited degree of up and downmovement of the can rest. Upward movement of the can rest is, however,resisted by an arcuate leaf spring I32 which is interposed between a topflange portion I20 of the can rest and the top I I 6 of the head.

Turning or oscillating movement of the can rest upon the pivot bolt I25and also lateral movement of the spring I32 is prevented by theprovision of the upstanding ears I33 which form an integral part of theflange I20 and are located at the two ends thereof as shown in Figure18, to extend up across the adjacent end edges of the portion I I6 ofthe head structure.

The numeral I51) generally designates a modifled form of the yoke shownin the previously described embodiments, particularly the form of theyoke shown in Figure 4, which is provided with the cam flange and canrest 26. The corresponding flange and rest upon the left hand or canside of the device is here shown and designated 26a. This flange co-actswith the thrust roller 31a to efiect the raising and lowering of theyoke.

The yoke I5b is here shown as being formed by riveting the actuatinglever I34 between the left side member of the yoke and a right sidemember by the rivets I35. The top edge of the right side member of theyoke is of contour similar to that of the left side member of the yoke.In this construction, the top edge of the right side member of the yokebears against the overlying horizontal under edge of the forward end ofthe extension arm I26' and co-operates therewith to effect the positivedownward movement of the can driving wheel I30, when the yoke isoscillated counter-clockwise, in the same manner as the left side memberIl co-operates with the overlying portion of part II in Figure 4 forthis purpose. As shown, a portion of the extension arm I26 is offset topermit upward movement of the rearward end of the right side member ofthe yoke.

Actuation of the yoke I5bis effected by means of the lever I34 which atone end is secured by rivets I35 to angular rearward extensions I36forming parts of the sides of the yoke. At its free upper end the leverI34 is rolled to provide the sleeve I3! in which is mounted a pin I38which carries upon its upper end the knob I39. The top surface of thisknob is cupped slightly so that when it is pressed against the palm of13 the hand a firm grip can be maintained thereon to effect the desiredoscillation of the yoke.

Backward swinging movement of the yoke actuating lever I34 is limited bythe stop I45) which is secured to the adjacent side of the bracket armThe action of the can rest in this embodiment of the invention will, itis believed, be entirely apparent and also it will be readily seen thatthe raising and lowering of the candriving wheel 139 is effectedindependently of the turning of the wheel operating crank, through themedium of the lever I35. When such lever is swung forwardly to thebroken line position shown in Figure 18, the flange Zlia will shift onthe thrust wheel 37a so as to lower the yoke at the same time that theyoke is turned, thereby lowering the can driving wheel away from thecutter. After the can has been placed in position in the obvious manner,the head of the can is first out or punctured by forcing the lever usebackwardly against the stop MO thereby raising the can and forcing itagainst the edge of the cutter wheel I25 so as to cause the cutter topenetrate the can top. Rotary motion is then imparted to the drivingwheel I30 in the obvious manner to effect the cutting out of the cantop.

As the can is raised the top edge of the bead will contact the floorplate l2i of the can rest so that, through the downward pressure of thisplate under the action of the spring 132, a firm bearing will bemaintained between the under edge of the can flange and the toothed edgeof the driving wheel 13D.

Figure 20 illustrates a method of using or an application of the headconstruction illustrated in Figures and 11, either with or without theL-shaped can rest 81, with the particular form of opener here shownbeing specifically described and illustrated in my co-pendingapplication Serial No. 573,822, filed January 22, 1945, as hereinbeforestated. In thisfigure the numeral Qiia designates the fixed one of twohandles which are connected with the body plate I00,

the other handle being designated 90b and having oscillatory motion onthe rivet l4l, which is carried by the body plate, to effect the up anddown movement of the can driving wheel, not shown, and parts directlyconnected therewith.

The handle 90a corresponds to the handle 90 of Figures 10 and 11 or thehandle 68 of Figures 6, to 8, inclusive, and the knife carrying head,not shown, and the can rest, not shown, are secured to the handle 90aand to the body plate by the rivets 42. r

The top edge of the body plate is formed to provide the bottle capremover I42.

It is to be understood that any of the various types of thrust mechanismshown in the present application and in my co-pending applications andpatents may be employed with any illustrated and described headstructure. Also, it is to be understood, that either the crank handle,such as that shown in Figure 1, or the thumb and finger operating handlemay be employed with any illustrated and described thrust mechanism orhead.

From the foregoing it will be seen that there has been disclosed in thepresent application a can opener structure in several modified forms,which is designed to operate with a minimum of effort to effect thepuncturing of the end of the can and for holding the can in the deviceas the end is being cut from the can, the said thrust 14 mechanism beingof simplified condensed construction.

There is also disclosed in the present application an opener structurehaving novel improve ments in the escapement mechanisms whereby suchmechanisms operate with a minimum of effort to effect a disconnectionbetween the operating handle and the thrust mechanism at a predeterminedposition after the can end has been punctured and the can secured in thedevice for the continued cutting out of the end thereof. Such escapementmechanisms provide positive engagement of the operating handle with thethrust mechanism when the operating handle is reversely rotated toeffect the release of the can from the device and prepare the device forreception of the next can.

Another feature of the present invention is the provision of novelimprovement in the head construction which provides for a strong anddurable structure having necessary resiliency both laterally andvertically to permit the can to be positively but easily rotated in thedevice to effect the cutting out of the can end.

I claim:

1. A can opener comprising a body plate, a frarne-like head portionsecured to one side of the body plate at an end thereof, said framehaving an outer side wall and end walls, a cutter supported within theframe and having a cutting edge projecting below the side and end walls,a rotatable can rim engaging wheel supported on the body for movementrelative to the cutter, means for rotating the wheel, means foreffecting the desired movement of the wheel relative to the cutter, anda can rim contacting rest mem oer separate from and supported by theframe for limited up and down rectilinear movement and having contactsurfaces disposed relative to the cutter to be engaged by the top edgeof a can rim when the cutter has penetrated the head of the can, toprovide a flat bearing surface for the rim forwardly and rearwardly ofthe cutter during the turning of the can by the wheel.

2. A can opener as set forth in claim 1, with resilient means interposedbetween the head and the rest member and urging movement of the resttoward the wheel.

3. A can opener, comprising a body plate having a head end, an openframe unit supported upon the plate at one side of the head end, acutter supported within the frame and having a cutting edge extendingdownwardly beyond one open side of the frame, the frame having oppositeend wall portions, a rotatable can rim engaging wheel supported on thebody plate below the head portion for movement lengthwise of the bodyplate relative to the cutter, means for effecting the rotation of thewheel, means for forcibly moving the wheel toward the cutting edge ofthe cutter and for retracting the wheel therefrom, a can rim engagingrest supported by the frame and including upstanding ears each pivotallyattached to an end wall ofthe frame and supporting the rest means forlimited movement toward and away from the periphery of the wheel, andyieldable means interposed between the rest means and the frame andconstantly urging movement of the rest means toward the periphery of thewheel.

4. A can opener of the character stated in claim 3, in which said restmeans comprises two substantially U-shaped units the sides of whichconstitute said ears, each end wall being received between the sides ofa unit, and the said re- 15 silient means comprising a bowed leaf springinterposed between the lower edge of each end wall of the frame and theadjacent underlying portion of the rest unit.

5. A can opener of the character stated in claim 3, in which the canrest means comprises a rectangular plate disposed beneath the frame andhaving a central opening through which the cutter projects, the saidupstanding ears being formed integral with the ends of the plate and thesaid resilient means comprises a bowed leaf spring interposed betweenthe lower edge of each end wall of the frame and the underlying part ofsaid rectangular plate.

6. A can opener, comprising a body plate having a head portion, asubstantially rectangular frame disposed across one side of the headportion of the plate and secured thereto, said frame having end portionsdisposed adjacent to the forward and rear edges of the body plate, a canhead penetrating cutter supported within the frame and having a cuttingedge projecting from and below the frame, a can rim engaging drivingwheel supported by the plate for rotary movement, means for rotating thewheel, said wheel being adapted for movement toward and away from thecutting edge of the cutter, means ineluding an oscillatable plate forforcibly moving the wheel toward the cutter and for effecting theretraction of the wheel therefrom, yieldable rest means carried by theframe in spaced relation with the periphery of the wheel and adapted tohave the top edge of the can rim pressed thereagainst by the thrustmovement of the wheel,

and means forming a part of the stated means for forcibly moving thewheel, comprising a rest for contact with a side of a can upon theopposite side of the wheel from the rim engaging rest.

'7. A can opener of the character stated comprising a body plate havinga head end, a cutter supported upon the head end of the body plate, arotatable can rim engaging wheel, an oscillatable unit supporting saidwheel and supported upon the bod plate for combined rocking movement andmovement lengthwise of the plate to effect the movement of the wheelrelative to the cutter, means for rotating the wheel, means foreffecting the rocking of the wheel supporting means, and means forimparting a positive thrust movement to the wheel supporting means uponthe rocking of the latter, to move the wheel toward the cutter,comprising a laterally projecting cam flange forming a part of the wheelsupporting rocking means and a roller carried by the body plate andhaving said cam flange positioned to bear upon the periphery thereof.

8. A can opener structure as set forth in claim '1, wherein the said camflange projects beyond the side face of the can rim engaging drivingwheel which is adjacent to the side of a can to which the opener isapplied, to form a rest against which the side of the can bears.

9. A can opener of the character stated comprising a body plate having ahead portion, a cutter carried by the head portion at one side of thebody plate, a yoke enclosing the plate below the head portion, the platebetween the enclosing parts of the yoke having a longitudinal slottherein, a shaft extending through the slot and rotatably supported bythe opposite parts of the yoke, a driving wheel carried upon the shaftupon the said one side of the body plate for co-action with the cutter,means carried upon the other end of the shaft for facilitating impartingrotary motion to the shaft, a thrust means forming an operative couplingbetween the body plate and the yoke by which upon oscillation of theyoke in one direction the yoke, shaft and wheel will be moved toward thecutter and upon opposite oscillation of the yoke, the yoke, shaft andwheel will be moved away from the cutter, a trigger member disposed uponthe side of the yoke adjacent to said rotary motion imparting means andcomprising a plate substantially paralleling the adjacent side of theyoke and pivotally attached to the yoke for oscillation in a planeparalleling the yoke and body plate, an outwardly projecting stop membercarried by the trigger plate, means carried by the rotary motionimparting means for engaging said stop upon clockwise rotation of therotary motion imparting means to effect simultaneous turning of thelatter and the yoke, and a fiat camming member carried by the body plateand projecting laterally therefrom across the plane of the triggerplate, said cam member having a camming surface extending oblique to thelength of the body plate for engagement by an edge of the trigger plateto effect the oscillation of the cam plate and the disengagement of saidstop from the said means engaging therewith.

10. A can opener of the character stated in claim 9, wherein the pivotpoint for the trigger plate is upon the opposite side of a verticalplane passing through the center of rotation for the rotary motionimparting means from the cam member and stop member when the yoke andtrigger plate are in starting position.

11. A can opener structure of the character stated in claim 9, whereinthe stop carried by the trigger plate and the means engaging therewithand carried by the rotary motion imparting means are in the form of aroller and pin, the trigger plate carried stop member being shifted byengagement of the trigger plate with the cam member to a position insidethe circle of movement of the means engaging therewith and carried bythe rotary motion imparting means whereby to effect the stateddisengagement of the rotary motion imparting means from the triggerplate.

12. A can opener of the character described comprising a body platedesigned to be vertically disposed for use, the body plate having anelliptical slot therein extending longitudinally thereof, a yoke memberhaving two spaced side portions and having the body plate disposedbetween such portions, a shaft rotatably supported by and extendingthrough the yoke plate side portions and through said slot, crank meansupon one end of the shaft for facilitating rotation of the shaft, a canrim engaging driving wheel secured to the other end of the shaft, saidyoke being oscillatable on the axis of the shaft, means forming anoperative coupling between the yoke and the body plate for effecting theshifting of the yoke and the shaft to a limited extent longitudinally ofthe plate upon oscillation of the yoke in one direction and effectingretraction of the shaft in the opposite direction upon oppositeoscillation of the yoke, means for establishing a releasable couplingbetween the crank means and the yoke functioning to oscillate the yokeupon rotation of the crank means clockwise and to release the connectionbetween the yoke and the crank means upon a predetermined extent ofoscillation of the yoke, a substantially rectangular frame disposedacross the top end of the body plate upon the side thereof adjacent tosaid wheel, said frame having two inner terminal portions secured to thebody plate and an outer side portion spaced from and extending acrossthe width of the body plate, and a.

can top penetrating and cutting knife secured to the said outer portionof the frame and extendin downwardly from the lower edge thereof in aplane paralleling and passing the side of the wheel remote from the bodyplate, said frame being of a resilient character permitting relativemovement of the knife and the wheel.

13. A can opener, comprising a body plate having a head end, an openhead frame unit having an inner side portion secured to one side of thebody plate at the head end, a cutter supported within the frame andhaving a cutting edge extending downwardly beyond one open side of theframe, the frame having opposite end wall portions, a camming plate uponthe said one side of the body plate, a rotatable can rim engaging wheelmounted on the camming plate, means coupling the camming plate and wheelwith the body plate for support by and for up and down and turningmovement relative to the body plate, means for effecting rotation of thewheel, means for applying camming thrust to said camming plate uponturning of the latter in one direction to forcibly move the wheel towardthe cutting edge of the cutter, the camming plate upon turning in theopposite direction engaging the said inner side portion of the headframe for downward thrust and retraction of the wheel from the cutter, acan rim engaging rest supported by the frame and including earspivotally attached to the 18 end walls of the frame and supporting therest for limited movement toward and away from the periphery of saidwheel, and yieldable means interposed between the rest and the frame andconstantly urging movement of the rest toward the periphery of thewheel.

14. A can opener of the character stated in claim 7, wherein said meansfor effecting the desired movement of the wheel relative to the cutterincludes an oscillatable element and means for exerting a thrust forcethereby against a fixed part of the body portion.

15. A can opener as set forth in claim 14, with a yieldable elementinterposed between the thrust effecting means and the said fixed part ofthe body portion ROBERT E. McLEAN.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file ofthis patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Mueller Oct. 31, 1944

